Friction Sensitivity of Primary Explosives
Abstract
A Bundesanstalt fur Materialprufung (BAM) small friction tester, manufactured in West Germany, has been used to rank primary explosives in their order of friction sensitivity. Primary explosives RD 1333 lead azide, dextrinated lead styphnate, polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA)-lead azide, colloidal lead azide, normal lead styphnate, basic lead styphnate, potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan, and tetrazene were tested to determine the 10% and 50% probability of friction initiation. The 50% probability of initiation level was used to rank primary explosives for initiation of combustion by friction. The rankings for initiation by friction were compared with data for ranking primary explosives by impact sensitivity, autoignition temperature, and crystal density. Friction sensitivity values appeared to decrease with increase in the crystal density of primary explosives. Impact sensitivity and autoignition temperature values increased as the crystal density of primary explosives increased.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA119982
Entities
People
- Joel M. Harris
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center